Magic Johnson Reacts to Luka Doncic’s Shocking Physical Transformation

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Cole Sullivan | Last updated Jul 29, 2025 6:04 PM ET

Throughout Luka Doncic's NBA career, while being clearly one of the best players in the league, his biggest critique has been whether or not he's consistently in shape to withstand an 82-game season and a postseason—without being a liability on the defensive end.

While he’s proven he can win when it matters most, that critique reached an all-time high this past season, likely because he joined one of the biggest markets and franchises in the world—the Los Angeles Lakers—after a shocking midseason trade from the Dallas Mavericks.

But it seems Doncic took all the scrutiny personally. This offseason, his body transformation has become one of the biggest storylines in basketball. He even landed on the cover of "Men’s Health," where he opened up about his new regimen: two-a-day workouts, 16-hour fasts, 250 grams of protein per day, and a gluten-free, low-sugar diet.

Luka is on a mission this offseason

Two-a-day workouts
16 hour fasts
250g protein/day
Gluten-free, low-sugar diet

(Via @MensHealthMag, boogiephotographer) pic.twitter.com/qdP1ZO56kh
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 28, 2025

His physical change has even caught the attention of Lakers legend and NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson, who reacted to Doncic's new appearance on Tuesday.

"I love how Luka is showing his Laker teammates how serious he is about winning a championship in Los Angeles by transforming his body!"

Johnson later clarified: "What I meant to say was: I love what I’m seeing from @luka7doncic right now. When a guy comes to LA and totally transforms his body, you know he’s not just talking about winning—he’s showing it. That’s how you set the tone in the locker room and let your teammates know it’s time to chase a championship together!"

What I meant to say was: "I love what I’m seeing from @luka7doncic right now. When a guy comes to LA and totally transforms his body, you know he’s not just talking about winning, he’s showing it. That’s how you set the tone in the locker room and let your teammates know it’s…
— What Magic Meant (@Whatmagicmeant) July 29, 2025

There’s now growing optimism that with Doncic back in the United States before he begins training with the Slovenian national team for EuroBasket 2025 in August, he’ll sign a long-term extension with the Lakers—who have been eager to lock him in as their next face of the franchise for the foreseeable future.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: